Barge to house hundreds of migrants at Portland Port arrives in Falmouth
The boat will move onto Portland to be part of the Home Office's plan to manage immigration
Last updated 9th May 2023
A barge which will be used to house around 500 male migrants at Portland Port has arrived in Falmouth.
The Bibby Stockholm has spent just under three weeks travelling to Cornwall from the port of Genoa in Italy.
The boat will be docked for fitting works before it is moved to Portland in Dorset as a permanent base.
It's part of the Home Office's plan to manage immigration.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:
“This Government has been clear that the use of expensive hotels to house the unprecedented number of asylum seekers crossing the Channel is unacceptable and must end – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day.
“This is why we will be using alternative accommodation options which are more manageable for communities, as our European neighbours are doing – including the use of barges to save the British taxpayer money.
“We are continuing to work closely with the councils and key partners to manage any impact in Falmouth and Portland and that appropriate arrangements are in place.”